News

Dr. Julie Grossman, Associate Dean and professor of Horticultural Science, is an internationally recognized expert in legume cover crop nitrogen fixation. A passionate advocate for innovative pedagogy and a former Fulbright scholar, she has received numerous national awards for her mentorship and civic engagement. Congratulations to Grossman!!

University of Minnesota Twin Cities associate professor Laura Shannon is helping broaden the use of the University-created potato. Read the full story here.

View our seminar speaker lineup and recordings for the 2026 Fall semester!

Seminars are at 3:30pm CT on each date in Alderman 405 and by Zoom. In-person attendance is highly encouraged and recommended. Snacks and light refreshments are provided.

Introducing Associate Professor Laura Shannon! Learn about her nine-year journey at the University of Minnesota and her quest to find a place to deep-fry potatoes on campus!

A choice experiment with 677 participants revealed that consumers are willing to pay a $1.94/lb premium for cherry tomatoes from pollinator-friendly farms. The study identified four distinct consumer segments with unique preferences and demographic profiles, offering valuable insights for specialty crop growers, educators, and policymakers aiming to better target pollinator-conscious markets. Read the full study!

While Midwest specialty crop growers recognize the value of pollinators, they often struggle to find practical, region-specific management guidance. A recent study of over 1,000 resources reveals a "pollinator information paradox": scientific articles offer high-quality data but are often paywalled, while more accessible non-profit and government resources frequently lack the metadata needed to be easily discovered. The research calls for improved metadata standards and more geographically targeted, crop-specific resources to ensure growers have the information they need. Read the full study!

Could dwarf pomegranates be the next must-have addition to the indoor garden? Research has evaluated these plants as a promising new crop that breaks the mold of traditional ornamental houseplants. Beyond their evergreen foliage and year-round flowering, these pomegranates produce edible fruit and thrive on an accelerated production cycle—flowering in under one year. This combination of rapid growth, aesthetic appeal, and utility makes them an ideal candidate for year-round production and holiday market demand. You can read the official publication here.

For golf course superintendents balancing labor shortages with maintenance demands, the question of whether to roll greens immediately after a fungicide application is common. New research confirms that rolling putting greens within 10 minutes of applying Secure Action (fluazinam with acibenzolar-S-methyl) does not reduce disease control. Field trials across multiple locations showed no significant difference in dollar spot or Rhizoctonia suppression between rolled and unrolled treatments, offering a data-backed green light to streamline your maintenance schedule. Read more on this study here.

The Department of Horticultural Science is thrilled to welcome Gigi DiGiacomo as the newest Senior Researcher!

In celebration of National Blueberry Month, we are highlighting Gabe Olson-Jensen, a Ph.D. student at the U. Advised by Matt Clark, Olson-Jensen is dedicated to investigating germplasm and PH tolerance traits in blueberries.